23 Aug Antioch Council Approves Cannabis Business Agreements

Antioch City Council approved operating agreements for two cannabis businesses at its Aug. 13 meeting. (Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Aly Brown
Bay City News

The Antioch City Council last week approved operating agreements that will turn a defunct Kmart and a former dance studio into cannabis operations.

In two separate votes, the council voted 3-1 each time, with Councilmember Lori Ogorchock opposed and Councilmember Michael Barbanica absent, to approve the operating agreements with two cannabis businesses, ANT Green LLC and OTC Antioch LLC.

During the Aug. 13 meeting, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe explained that cannabis business use permits for each had already been approved in previous years, but the city needed to additionally approve operating agreements.

With its operating agreement approved, ANT Green will go forward with opening its business at 3625 E. 18th St., where Kmart shuttered in 2018. The approval of the operating agreement comes a little more than three years after ANT Green’s cannabis permit was approved by the city in 2021. Business operations will include cultivation, manufacturing, retail and distribution.
OTC Antioch will conduct its business at 300 G St., which was once the home of Elite Dance & Event Center. OTC Antioch received its cannabis permit in September 2022.

According to the city staff report, OTC Antioch’s operation will consist of two buildings totaling approximately 10,300 square feet, with the cannabis dispensary occupying the 6,800-square-foot building at the northern portion of the site.

When asked by a reporter why she voted against approving the agreements, Ogorchock provided a three-fold response: one, the cannabis market in Antioch is too concentrated and the red tape too extensive, making it difficult for businesses to compete and thus driving consumers to the illegal market; two, cannabis is not legal at a federal level; and, three, the drug is now ubiquitous, which is ultimately impacting kids.

“I am seeing so much more use in public than I did before,” she said. “I’m seeing it in cars. I pulled up alongside a car, and I saw three small children inside and a parent just smoking like crazy in the car, and they’re smoking pot. You have three minds that are not fully developed yet, and they’re inhaling it.”

Prior to the approvals during the meeting, one public speaker spoke in favor and two public speakers spoke in opposition to the businesses. The two called cannabis a “gateway drug” and expressed concerns about heightened crime at the locations where products will be sold. Speaker Ralph Hernandez further highlighted that the mayor had gone against his word to the voters regarding cannabis.

Hernandez-Thorpe acknowledged that he previously voted against legalizing cannabis, only to realize his personal view wasn’t representative of the voters, at which point he switched gears.

“I did realize I was on the wrong side of history, because in Antioch, interestingly enough, voters surpassed the rate of approval of the entire state of California,” Hernandez-Thorpe said. “And so when pastors would call me, I would have to remind them that the people who sit in your pews on Sunday morning voted for this policy.”

Regarding crime prevention and public safety, Acting Community Development Director Kevin Scudero said the applicants are required to submit safety plans that are reviewed by the Police Department; applicants typically participate in conferences with police to gain feedback; and they will be required to have armed security guards.

“We do have the authority to do security audits as well,” Scudero said. “So we have a pretty robust set of conditions of approval related to security.”

>>>Read: New Antioch Cannabis Stores Required to Support Equity<<<

As part of the city’s Social Equity Program, cannabis businesses contribute to local nonprofits to benefit the city and its residents. ANT Green has chosen Monument Impact, which has a mission to advance economic and racial equity in Contra Costa County.

OTC Antioch will partner with Bridge Builders to the New Generation, an organization dedicated to fostering the social emotional learning and mental well-being of youth and families from marginalized communities.

Adam Mernit, OTC Antioch chief development officer, said OTC, which is doing business as Off the Charts, is a high-performing, socially responsible business.

“Not only is every customer personally greeted and guided by a cannabis specialist to create a personalized and safe experience, but our commitment to training and educating our staff ensures that customers are properly informed about the breadth of our product line, differences amongst products and delivery methods, safe and responsible usage, as well as risks and warning about excessive consumption, signs of addiction, safety messaging that other retailers often overlook,” Mernit said.

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